Shuttler Lakshya Sen showers praise on Badminton legend Morten Frost

The youngster trained with the Danish legend for almost three months in 2019.

In a recent interview, Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen spoke highly of Badminton great Morten Frost and the influence the 62-year-old had in helping him clinch the five BWF titles he won in the last calendar year.

Speaking with Indian badminton player Sanjana Santosh in an Instagram Live session, Lakshay Sen said “He (Morten Frost) was present during the Belgian International as well as the Dutch Open”.

“He would come during practice hours and have conversations with me.”

18-year-old Lakshya Sen along with peers Rahul Bharadwaj, Kiran George and Mithun Manjunath from the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy trained with Danish legend Morten Frost for almost three months, starting from September 2019 as part of the partnership between Morten Frost and the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.

The Indian youngster won the Belgian International and Dutch Open as well as three other tournaments – all between September and December last year.

“He would always show up during training and before matches and speak only what was necessary and in the right amount.”

“He has always been very supportive and very willing to help,” the young Indian shuttler added.

India’s rising star and former World No. 1 Junior Badminton player, Lakshya Sen revealed how Morten Frost guided him through the course of his breakthrough senior campaign, “He would always show up during training and before matches and speak only what was necessary and in the right amount.

“He has always been very supportive and very willing to help,” he added.

Having won almost every available top level championship, except the World Badminton Championships as a player, Morten Frost is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever of the game. He has also achieved great success as a coach and went on to work as a commentator and continues to do so.

Speaking of the Dane’s knowledge of the game, Lakshya Sen said, “His player analysis is spectacular. His ability to identify a player’s weakness and his strength is truly remarkable. He would strategize with me before every match and that really helped me do well during tournaments”.

The Indian shuttler shared an anecdote of how the Danish legend’s guidance during the final helped spark a remarkable comeback to clinch the Dutch Open title.

“During the final of the Dutch Open, I had lost the first game. During the break, he told me, ’Long rallies or short, that’s irrelevant, you just have to give it your all.

“It does not bother me if you puke on the court. But you have to give your 100 per cent. The Japanese player (Yusuke Onodera) will not hold back and you cannot either,” Lakshya Sen concluded.